Press Release: Avian influenza H5 suspected in a dead wild swan in Czech Republic: Czech authorities applying precautionary measures

The authorities of the Czech Republic on 27 March 2006 informed the European Commission of a suspected case of the avian influenza virus H5 in a dead wild swan detected in Hluboka Nad Vltavou, 150 km South of Prague. It is not yet known if the virus is high pathogenic or low pathogenic H5 and tests are ongoing. Samples will be sent to the Community Reference Laboratory for avian influenza in Weybridge for further tests to determine if this is the H5N1 strain of the virus found in Asia.

European Commission: DG Health and Consumer Protection: Animal Health & Welfare: Avian Influenza - introduction http://ec.europa.eu/comm/food/animal/diseases/controlmeasures/avian/index_en.htm

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